Graduands should know their debts and payback options

On the convocation eve while addressing the outgoing batch of the ECE department I urged the graduands to step out from the IIITA main gate and raise their head to read the institute's message, 'Go Forth to Serve the Nation'. Renowned spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravishankar tweeted and I quote, "All the talent that you possess are for the benefits of others. Put them to good use". This moral obligation has greater appeal for graduands of the premier institute like IIITA where it costs about Rs. 4 Lakh per student per year which is much greater than the fee paid by the students. Acting honestly the graduands should pay their debts by choosing one or more of the following ways,

• First of all the graduands need to attain the second level of maturity which is a reflection of the positive thoughts/actions undertaken by the graduands for uplifting their alma mater. We should recall that after achieving first level of maturity we understood the motive behind the parent's scoldings or their denial for something and developed greater respect for them. No one can disown the parents as well as the alma mater. It may be parent's home, institute's campus, office or any other place, the sweet and bitter experiences always go side by side. The graduands must forget the bitterness as may be experienced by them during their stay at the institute and they must restrain themselves from the activities which may defame the institute.
• They should thoroughly discuss various shortcomings of the institute among themselves but not in public domain. The constructive suggestions/recommendations like upgrading the curriculum, lab work, hostel facilities, the campus life, etc. should be communicated to the institute. In accordance with the principles of the closed loop control systems, just right feedback is needed for incorporating the corrections towards meeting the goal. 
• They should excel at their work place. It may bring better job opportunities to the students of IIITA in the subsequent years. This chain reaction shall create dominance of the institute in various companies/organizations which may bring several benefits to the institute/nation.
• They should evolve themselves as entrepreneurs and directly serve the nation by creating more jobs and accelerating the GDP. Especially, the expertise in the field of ECE should be utilized for developing innovative products for commercial and defense applications. Several motivational schemes have already been started by the government of India for supporting this cause.
• They may go abroad for higher studies and contribute in scientific findings and/or developing the technologies which may serve the humanity, the world thus the nation. Abiding by the laws of the country wherever someone lives and working for its interests must be the highest priorities to everyone irrespective of his/her origin/belonging/faith. Being best brain of India such aspirants should follow/create those paths which are beneficial to their current country as well as India.
• As the bottom line, all graduands should contribute something to the institute in one way or the other e.g. funding for building new labs/infrastructure, establishing chair positions, visiting the institute for imparting specialized training to the junior batches of the institute, appropriately responding to various queries raised by general people on different social networks, etc.

We have availed those privileges which the nation is not able to offer to each and every student of the country. Someone may argue that he/she had earned it by qualifying the tough competition, but organizing such competitions itself is the most sad part. It is not the selection but the rejection of more or less equally worthy candidates. Ideally, every student should get the best opportunity of learning with similar facilities. Collective effort is needed for achieving this target.